What is it like to work with the Finalists of Elite Model Look?

Every time a model comes into my studio, if it’s a new face or not, We work with the stylist and the hair and make-up team to find an aspect of their personality, something that corresponds to them. And to show every aspect of the model, because for me, that’s the most important. And to have strong, realistic images of them. That’s the idea.

What's different for you about working at the World Final compared to your everyday work?

At the World Final, they are new faces, you must explain to them the mood of the shoot before you start, show them the poses sometimes, where the light is. This way you get the strongest images, to have real moments, not fashion pictures where it looks forced.

Is it important that the model listens to you?

Yes, but it has to be something that fits in with their personality, so it is important to let them be free, to be independent, so I explain to them as much as I can how a shoot works, what pose to do, so it’s not just a lookbook studio style.

How was it to shoot the Top Models backstage at the World Final?

It was amazing to shoot them of course, it was very quick, but we tried to make the most beautiful images we could, to show them as they are. But they are good and I know them very well. It’s three years since I started shooting at the World Final and I know them very well, they are top models now. Bara, Irina, Marilhéa…I did their first photo shoots with them when they first started at Elite Model Look, but it’s interesting for me to see how much they have grown. Their level of confidence shows,, you can see it when they were walking in the show. They own the stage. It’s good to have a reference for the Finalists to work with on the show.

What do you think is different about Elite Model Look?

There’s a real atmosphere of family which is very special. It is the product of this agency. They can really launch a model straight into the industry, and that’s why it really is like a family, these models grow up with Elite and with the other models from the competition.

It’s a photo of a generation. It’s especially interesting for me as I took the first images of some of these girls - it’s a competition that really does launch top careers of the models who come from this. It really is, every year - the portrait of a generation.

What did you think of the winners this year? You must have had some idea of who you wanted to win!

This year, I wasn’t wrong for any of them! Davidson [Winner of Elite Model Look 2016], I’m very happy for him, he is very much a unique person who is an incredible force, he has the potential to have an amazing career. For me, it’s about the personality, that’s what makes a top model.

This year there was 62 Finalists and there is a Top 15. Is 15 enough?

I don’t know if 15 is enough or if 62 is too many! Yes it’s hard, it was difficult this year, especially for the Boys, it’s harder for them because there is only a Top 5 so it gets complicated, but for the girls it’s the same. But we couldn’t have more than a Top 10. I think this year, this is a top generation.